Third Person's POV
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
Liora completely froze, the words echoing in the quiet night air as Ronan held both of her hands in a warm, steady grip.
"Are... are you for real right now?" Liora whispered, her voice trembling as she struggled to process the weight of the question.
Ronan simply offered a beautiful, breathtaking smile and nodded. The confirmation tore through Liora's defenses, and she immediately threw her arms around the man, burying her face in his shoulder as happy tears welled up in her eyes.
"Yes... yes, I'll be your girlfriend." Liora sobbed softly into the embrace.
Hearing the words, Ronan gently pulled back just enough to look into the girl's sparkling eyes before pressing his lips firmly against Liora's. He kissed her with a passionate, desperate intensity, a kiss overflowing with absolute love, profound security, and deep-seated trust. The sheer wave of raw emotion was so overwhelming that silent tears spilled from both of their eyes, mingling in the space between them.
After a long, breathless moment, they reluctantly broke apart, though their faces remained inches away as they shared another soft, lingering kiss.
"I love you, Rony!" Liora beamed, her voice full of pure adoration.
"I love you too, my bunny angel." Ronan murmured against her lips, causing Liora's signature bunny smile to light up her entire face.
Stepping back slightly, Ronan slipped his hand into his heavy coat pocket and pulled out the small, elegantly wrapped velvet box he had secured from the luxury jewelry boutique.
Liora's eyes instantly widened to the size of saucers. She let out a sharp gasp, covering her mouth with both hands. "Oh... isn't this the exact silver bracelet from the window? You... you actually went back and bought it?"
Ronan's smile widened at the girl's shock. Without a word, he gently took Liora's left hand, lifting it up to carefully slide the stunning, polished piece onto her wrist.
"Thank you, Rony... it's beautiful." Liora whispered, staring down at the glittering metal.
"Happy Valentine's Day, love." Ronan murmured softly.
Liora's cheeks instantly flamed a brilliant shade of crimson at the affectionate pet name. "Happy Valentine's Day, Rony!" she cheered, eagerly throwing her arms back around Ronan's neck.
. . . . . . . . . .
"You seriously terrified me so much." Liora confessed a little later, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared out at the still, dark waters of the river Thames shimmering flawlessly beneath the bright moonlight. "When you ran away like that... I honestly thought you'd never want to speak to me again."
The two of them were sitting closely together on their secluded wooden bench. Liora's head was resting peacefully on Ronan's sturdy shoulder, while Ronan rested his own head against the girl's soft blonde locks. They were completely wrapped up in each other's space, their arms securely locked around one another to keep the chilly night wind at bay.
Ronan pressed a tender, loving kiss into the crown of Liora's hair. "I am so incredibly sorry, baby. I was just completely lost. I couldn't comprehend the true depth of my own feelings for you... not until Miss Scott laid it all out for me."
Liora ducked her head, her face burning warm once again at the word honey. It was the very first time Ronan had ever used such a deeply intimate title with her, and it sent a flutter straight to her stomach.
By the time eleven o'clock rolled around, the cold became too sharp to bear. Hand-in-hand, their fingers tightly intertwined, they finally stood up and began the quiet walk back toward Liora's apartment building.
"Today was an absolute whirlwind." Liora murmured, looking up at the sky. "So many massive things happened all at once."
"Hmm... and tomorrow is going to be just as massive for you, isn't it?" Ronan teased lightly, turning his gaze onto the girl. "After all, it's your very first day of training at my corporation."
Liora looked back at him, a soft, affectionate smile playing on her lips. "Yeah. It really is." She took a deep, stabilizing breath, staring up at the endless canvas of stars above them.
"So..." Ronan purred smoothly, a playful glint in his sharp eyes. "How does it feel to know that the ruthless, powerful boss of the entire company you're interning for is actually your boyfriend?"
Instead of laughing, a sudden, heavy frown settled over Liora's features. She slowed her steps, a wave of deep corporate anxiety hitting her. "Ron... can I ask you something serious?"
"Hmm? Of course, what is it?"
"Our relationship... do we have to completely hide it from the world?" Liora asked, her voice dropping into a nervous whisper. "Everyone in this country knows who you are. You're a high-profile, elite billionaire CEO. And I'm... I'm just a normal university student. If the media or the paparazzi ever catch wind of us-"
"Hey, look at me. Listen to me, Lio." Ronan interrupted firmly. He stopped walking entirely, turning Liora around to cup the girl's face in both of his warm hands, forcing their eyes to lock in absolute intensity.
"I love you more than life itself. And you love me too, right?"
Liora nodded instantly, her eyes swimming with vulnerability.
"Then that is the only thing that matters." Ronan declared fiercely. "We don't give a damn about other people or what the public thinks. No matter what malicious rumors they try to spin, my business empire isn't going to fall apart over who I love. And absolutely no one can touch you or harm your life... as long as I am standing here to shield you. So please, don't overthink our relationship or take the external noise too seriously, okay? We are going to live exactly how we want to live. We don't need to make a grand public announcement, nor do we need to live in fear and hide in the shadows. We'll just let it flow naturally. Freedom belongs to us, Lio. Do you understand me, hmm?"
As Liora let out a shaky breath, nodding through a fresh wave of emotional tears, Ronan leaned down and pressed a long, incredibly reassuring kiss against the girl's forehead.
Liora felt completely consumed by a wave of profound emotion. Ronan's fierce protection and tender words were more than her heart could handle. For the very first time in her bleak existence, an indescribable sense of luck washed over her. She genuinely believed that from this moment on, everything in her chaotic life was finally going to end perfectly.
Oh, but how tragically wrong she was...
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
By the time they finally arrived at the entrance of the apartment complex, it was already 11:30 PM. Yet, Ronan seemed entirely unready to let go, his powerful arms remaining tightly locked around Liora's waist as he pulled her against his chest.
"Ron..." Liora chuckled softly, though she secretly loved the clinginess. "It's already past eleven-thirty. You have a massive corporate empire to run first thing in the morning, and I have my training program. We are going to see each other tomorrow anyway..."
Ronan immediately pouted, a heavy, dramatic frown marring his handsome face as he reluctantly loosened his grip. Watching the terrifying CEO look so entirely defeated, Liora couldn't help but burst into a fond laugh.
"All right, all right, I'm heading out then." Ronan sighed, leaning in to steal one final, sweet kiss from Liora's lips. "Be incredibly careful, love."
Liora shyly lowered her gaze to the concrete floor. "How are you getting back to the mansion?"
"Uh, I'll just call my driver to come pick me up down the road. Until then, I feel like taking a walk anyway. It's late, so get upstairs inside where it's safe." Ronan instructed gently.
"Okay. Please be careful on your walk too." Liora offered a radiant smile, finally turning to step inside the lobby, though she couldn't resist looking back over her shoulder multiple times to wave at the man.
Ronan stood under the streetlamp, waiting until Liora's silhouette safely disappeared into the elevator bay. Letting out a long, blissfully happy sigh, he turned on his heel and began walking down the dark avenue, a soft smile lingering on his lips.
But he was far from alone.
From the deep, suffocating shadows of a nearby alleyway, a pair of cold, malicious eyes watched his retreating figure with absolute calculation.
"Ah... everything seems to be falling into place perfectly." a sinister, booming voice rasped into the dark, a wicked smirk cutting through the shadows. "Let them enjoy their little romance. The volatile power of the two gems is rapidly increasing with every passing hour. Soon, it will only take one swift, decisive move to seize possession of both stones and claim the ultimate, supreme power for myself. Hahahahaha..."
"But Your Majesty," a low, gravelly voice murmured as a dark figure emerged from the fog. It was Lucas, the loyal servant. "The cosmic power of the two gems is inherently far greater than your own. Isn't that an extreme risk to your safety?"
The dark king let out a booming, arrogant laugh that shook the night air. "Haha! Foolish Lucas! Even if the two gems possess immense, god-like strength, those pathetic two human still have absolutely no concept of how to wield them. As their powers grow in tandem through their bond, they won't suspect a single thing until both gems are securely ripped from their chests. Then, I will hold the main power to rule not only the Mo Kingdom, but this entire human world for eternity! Hahahahaha..."
Vante Corporation
Day 1
Liora's POV
The morning sun arrived way too quickly. Standing on the grand plaza directly in front of the towering, hyper-modern Vante Corporation headquarters, I couldn't help but feel a massive wave of nerves. I was wearing the premium, tailored outfit Ronan had bought for me yesterday. Looking down at my left wrist, my fingers gently traced the cold, intricate silver bracelet he had given me. I leaned my head down, pressing a quiet, loving kiss against the metal, a secret smile gracing my lips.
This was my very first time stepping foot inside the legendary Vante empire. Taking a deep, stabilizing breath to calm my racing heart, I pushed through the revolving glass doors.
The moment I stepped into the opulent marble lobby, I spotted the nine other corporate interns sitting together on a massive designer sofa. Mia was right in the middle of them. She was wearing an incredibly short, form-fitting black skirt paired with a pristine white blouse, her sleeves rolled up neatly to her elbows. The moment her eyes landed on me, she flashed a warm, knowing smile, but I quickly averted my gaze, looking away into the corridor.
As my eyes scanned the lobby wall, my breath suddenly caught in my throat. Mounted inside a massive, elegant frame was a large photograph of the exact identical couple I had discovered in that mysterious, centuries-old newspaper archive. My eyes widened in sheer shock as I stepped closer, noticing the word "Heirs" written in an ornate, elegant font across the display.
Heirs? I thought to myself, a deep frown carving into my brow. Why on earth does it say Heirs? Shouldn't the proper name for them be Vante?
Before I could analyze the mystery any further, a sharp, commanding set of heels clicked across the marble, and an elegant woman stepped in front of our group.
"Good morning, everyone! Welcome to Vante Corporation." she announced with a bright, professional smile. "My name is Daisy Taylor. Please feel free to call me Miss Daisy. I will be personally managing your training program for the next ten days. So, if everyone is ready, let's head upstairs to the executive suite to meet our CEO, Mr. Ronan Brown, and the department managers."
The moment the words left her mouth, the other interns let out excited, happy gasps, practically vibrating at the thought of standing face-to-face with the legendary, elusive billionaire.
I couldn't help but let out a quiet, incredibly proud smirk to myself. Go ahead and cheer all you want, guys. There is absolutely no point in screaming over him... he belongs entirely to me now.
Miss Daisy gestured for us to follow her. Stepping away from the strange photograph with a lingering frown, I quickly fell into line behind the other nine interns.
We piled into the glass elevator, riding it all the way up to the restricted penthouse floor. The moment the doors glided open in front of a massive, double-sided mahogany door, Miss Daisy turned back around to face us, her expression shifting into one of absolute gravity.
"Listen to me very carefully," she warned, her voice dropping into a stern, unyielding register. "Do absolutely nothing to provoke Mr. Brown's temper. You are to simply nod your heads and agree with whatever he says. You have all heard rumors of his cold, cutthroat nature. Do not go around whispering about how handsome he is, and do not cause any drama. If even a single infraction occurs within the next ten days, you will be kicked out of this training program immediately. Is that understood?"
Everyone in the line nodded frantically, terrified.
But hearing her words, I completely drifted off into my own world. Miss Daisy was describing the terrifying, heartless tyrant that the entire public sector knew. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing out loud, vividly remembering just how incredibly soft, whiny, and deeply affectionate that exact same man was whenever we were completely alone behind closed doors.
"Man, I seriously can't stand her." one of the male interns whispered aggressively to the girl next to him, his voice buzzing near my ear. "I bet she secretly likes Mr. Brown too. Look at how she always taunts us just to keep him to herself."
Before I could even process the gossip, Miss Daisy stepped forward, knocking sharply on the heavy wood.
A split second later, a harsh, incredibly icy voice boomed from inside: "Come in."
. . . . . . . . . . .
The heavy doors swung open, and all ten of us quickly bowed our heads in deep respect, filing into the massive, sunlit boardroom to stand in a perfectly straight line. I kept my eyes glued entirely to the polished hardwood floor, my heart suddenly hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.
Oh my god... I can't face him. My mind was violently spinning, completely hijacked by the vivid, burning memories of last night. His whispered confessions. His lips on mine. Is he really my boyfriend? My actual partner? Wow. Standing inside his corporate domain, I still couldn't bring myself to believe this reality.
Miss Daisy began speaking, delivering a formal introduction to the executives, but the blood was rushing so loudly in my ears I couldn't comprehend a single word. Then, the deep, commanding baritone cut through the air.
"Hmm... Very well. Let's begin the introductions."
Starting from the absolute far end of the line, the other interns began introducing themselves one by one, their voices trembling with nerves.
My thoughts instantly drifted back to our very first kiss in his bedroom, followed by the breathless, unbridled passion of yesterday afternoon. A heavy, furious blush rushed to my cheeks as I realized the man who had completely dominated my body and soul was standing mere feet away from me.
Desperate for a glimpse, I slowly raised my head, letting my gaze drift up his tailored suit. As always, he was breathtakingly handsome, flanked on either side by two stone-faced department managers. But the exact moment my eyes locked onto his, a sudden jolt of pure shock hit my system.
Ronan was staring directly at me, but his expression was entirely devoid of warmth. He was looking at me with a cold, wicked, utterly ruthless gaze.
"Did you happen to receive a surprise gift?" he asked sharply, his voice echoing across the silent room.
I gasped, completely blindsided by the sudden question. Why on earth would he ask me about the bracelet here, in front of everyone? A sudden, sharp pang of agonizing fear shot through my chest. I jerked my head to the side, only to realize Miss Daisy and the entire room were staring at me in dead silence. It was my turn to introduce myself. I had completely botched it.
"I-I'm sorry, Ron..." I stammered out automatically, the familiar nickname slipping past my lips before my brain could stop it.
An audible, horrified gasp rippled across the entire boardroom. My second, catastrophic mistake.
"Did you seriously just have the audacity to call me by my personal name?" Ronan barked, his eyes flashing with pure, unadulterated fury as he slammed his hand down onto the mahogany table.
I fiercely bit down on my lower lip, my head violently snapping back down as hot, agonizing tears instantly spilled over my lashes. The brutal, terrifying contrast between this cold monster and the gentle soul who had kissed my forehead last night was too much for my fragile heart to bear.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir." I sobbed out, my voice trembling uncontrollably as the tears ran down my cheeks. "M-My mistake. It will never happen again. Please... please forgive me, sir."
My chest heaved as I forced myself to look back up through my blurred vision, desperately searching his face. And there, deep within the icy depths of his eyes, I spotted it, a fleeting, tortured shadow of a silent apology. It was incredibly subtle, but it was there. He looked as if he were being violently forced to play this cruel role against his own will.
Something is deeply, terribly wrong here, I realized, a chill running down my spine. His behavior was entirely forced. He had a hidden, dangerous reason for doing this to me.
Third Person's POV
"Since today is only your first day, I will overlook this massive transgression exactly once." Ronan announced to the room, his tone completely flat and unyielding as he entirely ignored Liora's weeping form. "If anyone else in this room commits a blunder of this magnitude again, you will be thrown out of this building immediately. Is that perfectly understood?"
Except for Liora, who was quietly wiping the tears from her face, the remaining nine interns chorused in fear: "Yes, sir!"
Liora stood frozen in the lineup. Through the crushing weight of the public humiliation, a strange sense of clarity washed over her. She realized with absolute certainty that this wasn't the real Ronan. His harsh behavior was entirely suspicious, forced, and calculated.
With a heavy, suffocating sorrow anchored deep in her chest, Liora quietly followed the rest of the group as they filed out of the executive suite.
But behind the heavy mahogany doors, a silent, deeply pained thought echoed through the billionaire's mind: I am so incredibly sorry, Liora. Please... if you can find it in your heart, forgive me.
Unable to secure even a single moment alone with the elusive CEO, Liora endured the rest of the grueling training day in a complete fog, finally returning to her apartment later that evening feeling profoundly sad and emotionally hollow.
Pushing open the front door, she stepped inside, only to freeze in the entryway.
Sophia was sitting on the edge of the living room sofa, her elbows resting heavily on her knees as her eyes stared blankly at the floor. It was incredibly rare to see Sophia back at the apartment this early in the evening. The sheer wave of intense worry rolling off her friend's frame caused Liora to frown.
"Sophie?"
Sophia violently raised her head at the sound of Liora's voice, her eyes completely bloodshot and heavy with unshed tears.
"Oh-oh, Liora! You're back?" Sophia stuttered, desperately trying to force a fragile, hollow smile onto her face. "Your... your training at Vante started today, right? How did everything go?"
"It went... well." Liora lied smoothly, swallowing down her own heartbreak to shield her friend.
"Mmm... that's good."
"What's wrong, Sophie? You look absolutely devastated." Liora asked, immediately crossing the room and sitting down beside her.
Without a single word of warning, Sophia violently lunged forward, throwing her arms around Liora's neck and burying her face in her chest. Realizing that her older friend was violently sobbing, her frame shaking uncontrollably, Liora's eyes widened in sheer panic.
"Sophie! Please, tell me what happened!" Liora begged, rubbing her back.
"M-Mike... he was brutally ambushed and beaten up by a dangerous group of people!" Sophia wailed, the words tearing from her throat. "He's incredibly hurt, Liora. H-He's still completely unconscious in the intensive care unit!"
Liora's breath completely hitched, her mind spinning as the puzzle pieces violently crashed together. Michael, the exact man who had trapped her against the wall yesterday morning. Ronan had explicitly mentioned his name. But a sudden realization caught Liora off guard: Wait... Sophia is close enough to the ruthless MYG News CEO to call him 'Mike' so intimately?
But a specific word caught her attention. "Sophie... did you just say a group did this to him?" Liora asked, thoroughly confused.
"Y-Yes!" Sophia sobbed against her shoulder, clutching her shirt. "The doctors said there is absolutely no way a single human being could have caused that amount of brutal, devastating destruction to a man's body."
A wave of profound, shocking comprehension washed over Liora. Ronan's extraordinary, supernatural strength had been so completely devastating that the police and the doctors automatically assumed an entire gang had jumped Michael.
Liora's heart ached with a complex, suffocating mixture of intense pity for the broken Michael, and profound sorrow for the weeping girl crying her heart out in her arms. Everything in her life was spinning out of control at terrifying speed.
Why was Michael so desperate to keep her away from Ronan? Why was he so heavily obsessed with her mother's silver necklace?
Every single facet of her existence had transformed into a dangerous, cosmic mystery. Holding her friend tightly against her chest, Liora gently stroked Sophia's hair, offering silent, hollow comfort as the deep darkness of the night settled heavily over the city.